In a 3-4, offenses never know where the fourth pass rusher is coming from. The Broncos already have two key components common in successful 3-4 defenses: Two premier pass rushers on the edge in Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, and three quality cornerbacks capable of playing man coverage in Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby.

“We’ve already been running something like a 3-4,” Miller said. “You look at our base defense last year, all DeMarcus had to do was stand up and it was a 3-4.”

One more requirement is a quality nose tackle. This is where Terrance Knighton, a free agent in mid-March, could move a tick or two higher on the Broncos’ list of offseason priorities.

With the Cincinnati Bengals still not allowing Joseph to get out of the final year of his contract, the Broncos moved forward Tuesday by interviewing Phillips for their defensive coordinator position.

Phillips, 67, was Gary Kubiak’s defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans from 2011-13. Phillips did not coach in 2014, his first season out of NFL coaching since 1975. Phillips was the Broncos’ head coach in 1993-94, posting a 16-16 record.

Kubiak, hired last week as the Broncos’ head coach, also has interest in former Atlanta coach Mike Smith for his defensive coordinator position. However, Smith is considering taking some time off after his seven-year run with the Falcons ended with a 66-46 record and four playoff appearances.

If Phillips becomes the defensive coordinator, it wouldn’t be the first time he was the Broncos’ second choice, but got the job anyway. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen wanted Mike Shanahan to become his head coach in 1993. When Shanahan passed, citing the timing wasn’t right for him to replace Dan Reeves, Bowlen walked into Phillips’ defensive coordinator office and offered him the head coach job.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.